JP7809990B2 - Laser Processing System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laser processing system .

Recently, issues such as marine plastic waste have become a hot topic, and there has been a growing global movement to eliminate environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. One example of such plastic waste is plastic bottles, which are widely used in the distribution and sale of beverages due to their various advantages, such as shelf life, and large quantities of plastic beverage bottles are produced, sold, and used.

Most PET beverage bottles have labels attached for management and sales promotion purposes. These labels are printed with a wealth of information essential to consumers, such as the product name, ingredient information, expiration date, barcode, QR code (registered trademark), recycle mark, and logo. In addition, beverage manufacturers often print designs or illustrations designed to appeal to consumers, helping to highlight the individuality of their products and increase their competitiveness. Thus, it is now common for PET beverage bottles to have labels with the above-mentioned printing.

After consumers have consumed their contents, these labeled PET beverage bottles are collected and recycled for the purpose of resource recovery in order to protect the environment. This calls for the promotion of circular recycling, sometimes called "bottle-to-bottle," particularly for beverage bottles. Circular recycling of beverage bottles involves sorting and collecting used PET bottles, which are then turned into flakes by recyclers and used to create new PET bottles. Thorough sorting and collection is essential for this circular recycling system to operate smoothly.

Because the PET bottle, label, and cap are made of different materials, they need to be properly separated during the recycling process. This means that consumers must separate the cap and label from each PET bottle. While caps are removed naturally when consuming a beverage, this is not a hassle, as labels must be removed and separated by hand, which makes recycling more difficult. In other words, this manual work makes it difficult to recycle the large quantities of PET beverage bottles that are consumed.

However, existing technology is limited to recording simple symbols and numbers using a carbon dioxide laser, and it is not possible to directly print the contents of the label onto the PET bottle, which is the workpiece.
Therefore, a method has been attempted in which the contents of the label are directly printed on the PET bottle by rotating the workpiece, i.e., the PET bottle. However, rotating the PET bottle requires a mechanism to grip the bottle as it is being conveyed and convey it while rotating it, which makes the control of the mechanism for gripping and conveying the PET bottle complicated. Furthermore, high precision in rotational positioning is required to ensure the relative positional accuracy between multiple processing units. As a result, the cost of the manufacturing equipment increases. Furthermore, since processing is performed after the PET bottle is rotated, it is necessary to wait until the PET bottle reaches the desired rotation, which reduces productivity.

Related prior art documents, for example, propose a technology for splitting a light beam and irradiating the split light beams at the same position in order to process thick workpieces (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, this proposal does not enable high-precision relative positional accuracy for multiple arbitrary positions on the workpiece, and does not solve the problem of ensuring high productivity.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a laser processing system that can improve the relative positional accuracy of any number of positions on a workpiece and can quickly draw commercializable information with a simple device configuration.

The laser processing system of the present invention, which is a means for solving the above problems, comprises a plurality of light irradiation devices, each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means, and processes the workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices, wherein a first region processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device and a second region processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a second light irradiation device form different regions on the workpiece, and there is an angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region.

This invention makes it possible to provide a laser processing system that can improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on a workpiece and quickly draw commercializable information with a simple device configuration.

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an example of a laser processing system according to a first embodiment for forming a desired processing shape on the surface of a plastic bottle as a workpiece. FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2A is a plan view showing an example of a laser processing system according to a second embodiment, which performs laser processing at different positions on a PET bottle as a workpiece. FIG. 2B is a partial enlarged view showing two machined portions of the workpiece of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing area on a PET bottle as a workpiece in the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the positional relationship of processing portions on a PET bottle as a workpiece. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the first light irradiation device, the second light irradiation device, and the processing unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device adjacent to each other in the transport direction. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a laser processing system in which a first light irradiation device and a second light irradiation device are arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction with a transport device sandwiched therebetween, and a light-shielding member is provided between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the laser emission ports of the first and second light irradiation devices adjacent to each other in the conveying direction are arranged on the same side of the conveying device. FIG. 7B is another diagram illustrating a state in which the laser emission ports of the first and second light irradiation devices adjacent to each other in the conveying direction are disposed on the same side of the conveying device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a laser processing system having a configuration in which two adjacent light irradiation devices are arranged in plural. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a light scanning means in a light irradiation device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the storage container. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the appearance of the storage container. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of the appearance of the storage container. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the surface modification performed by laser irradiation. FIG. 14A is an enlarged view of a printed surface formed by assembling microstructures formed by changing the surface texture. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a printing surface formed by assembling microstructures formed by changing the surface texture, the microstructures being formed by a plurality of microstructures. FIG. 14C shows that the microstructure on the printing surface formed by assembling the microstructures formed by changing the surface texture has a nearly circular shape. FIG. 14D is a diagram showing a case where the microstructures on the printing surface formed by assembling microstructures formed by changing the surface texture are the same line processing. FIG. 15A is a diagram showing an example of adjusting the pixel values of output pixels in a storage container. FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating another example of adjusting the pixel values of the output pixels in the storage container. FIG. 15C is a diagram illustrating another example of adjusting the pixel values of the output pixels in the storage container. FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an example of a container having an integrated record according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 16B is an enlarged view of the depicted portion of FIG. 16A. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example in which an image is recorded on a curved surface near the mouth of a storage container having an integral recording. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another example in which an image is recorded on a curved surface near the mouth of a storage container having an integral recording. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example in which an image is recorded on a curved surface near the mouth of a storage container having an integral recording. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing variations in processing depth. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an image of overlapping beams during processing in the case of multi-beam. FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing an example of a manufacturing apparatus for a storage container according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing another example of the storage container manufacturing apparatus according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing another example of the storage container manufacturing apparatus according to the eighth embodiment. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a manufacturing device for a storage container in which a marking unit is arranged at an incline relative to the container body so that marking can be performed on the inclined portion of the container body. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a manufacturing device for a storage container in which the container body is placed horizontally. FIG. 27 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a manufacturing device for a storage container. FIG. 28A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a scanning unit (raster) of a laser driving unit in a storage container manufacturing apparatus. FIG. 28B is a flowchart showing a process using the storage container manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 28A. FIG. 29A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration when the optical system of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing device is arrayed. FIG. 29B is a flowchart showing a process using the storage container manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 29A. FIG. 30 shows an example of a delicate design realized in a container. FIG. 31 shows a delicate design applied to a PET bottle. FIG. 32 shows a delicate design applied to a plastic cup.

(Laser processing system)
In a first form, the laser processing system of the present invention is a laser processing system that includes a plurality of light irradiation devices each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means, and processes the workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices, wherein a first region processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device and a second region processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a second light irradiation device form different regions on the workpiece, and there is an angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region.

In the present invention, at least two light irradiation devices are used to process the front and back processing areas of a PET bottle, for example, as a workpiece. The laser light used to process the front and back of the PET bottle is incident on opposite sides of the bottle surface to process different processing areas. The two light irradiation devices are lined up adjacent to each other along the direction in which the PET bottle is transported, and, for example, immediately after processing of the front side of the bottle, another laser light is used to process the back. Because the start time difference between the two is small, the PET bottle is less likely to change position, and the back can be processed in approximately the same position as the PET bottle after processing the front. As a result, a simple configuration can be used to achieve high precision in the relative positioning of the processing areas on the front and back of the PET bottle.

Therefore, in the laser processing system according to the first embodiment, multiple light irradiation devices are arranged, and a first area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device and a second area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a second light irradiation device form different areas on the workpiece, and there is an angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first area and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second area. Therefore, by using a different light irradiation device to process the irradiation areas on the workpiece that have an angular difference in the normal direction to the processing surface, it is possible to reduce the complexity and cost of the transport device and to improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the angular difference is preferably 90° or more and 270° or less. According to this aspect, the angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region is 90° or more and 270° or less. Therefore, by using a separate light irradiation device to process multiple irradiation regions on the workpiece that have an angular difference in the normal direction of the processing surface, it is possible to reduce the complexity and cost of the transport device and improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, a workpiece is transported by a transport device to the processing areas of multiple light irradiation devices, and the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device are arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction. According to this aspect, by arranging multiple light irradiation devices adjacent to each other in the transport direction of the workpiece, it is possible to shorten the difference in processing start times, suppress factors that cause changes in the workpiece's position other than those in the transport direction, and improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, a first light irradiation device and a second light irradiation device are paired, and multiple pairs of light irradiation devices are arranged. According to this aspect, a first light irradiation device and a second light irradiation device are paired, and multiple pairs of light irradiation devices are arranged. Therefore, for example, by arranging light irradiation devices that process the same workpiece adjacent to each other, it is possible to improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece, and further, by arranging multiple pairs of adjacent optical scanning means, it is possible to achieve high productivity.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the posture of the workpiece does not change in any direction other than the conveyance direction in the transport region from the start position of processing by the first light irradiation device to the end position of processing by the second light irradiation device. According to this aspect, by not changing the posture of the workpiece in any direction other than the conveyance direction in the transport region from the start position of processing by the first light irradiation device to the end position of processing by the second light irradiation device, it is possible to improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that in the transport region from the processing start position by the first light irradiation device to the processing end position by the second light irradiation device, the workpiece does not come into contact with the transport device except at the transport surface. According to this aspect, in the transport region from the processing start position by the first light irradiation device to the processing end position by the second light irradiation device, the workpiece does not come into contact with parts such as guide members, so the posture of the workpiece does not change in any direction other than the transport direction, and the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece can be improved.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the first light irradiation device has a first deflector and a first imaging optical element, the second light irradiation device has a second deflector and a second imaging optical element, and the relationship of the following formula (1) is satisfied:
L>(WD1+d/2)*tan(θ1/2)+CA1/2+(WD2+d/2)*tan(θ2/2)+CA2/2...Formula (1)
In the above formula (1), L is the distance (mm) between the optical axis center of the first light irradiation device and the optical axis center of the second light irradiation device, the deflection angle θ1 (°) of the first deflector, the deflection angle θ2 (°) of the second deflector, the working distance WD1 (mm) of the first imaging optical element, the working distance WD2 (mm) of the second imaging optical element, the aperture diameter CA1 (mm) of the first imaging optical element, the aperture diameter CA2 (mm) of the second imaging optical element, and the maximum diameter d (mm) of the workpiece.
By having the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device satisfy the relationship of the above formula (1), the optical path of the adjacent first light irradiation device can be prevented from entering the second light irradiation device, and damage to the light irradiation device due to laser light irradiation can be prevented.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable to have a light-shielding member between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device, which can prevent reflected laser light from one light irradiation device from entering the other light irradiation device, thereby preventing damage to the light irradiation devices due to laser light irradiation.
The light-shielding member is not particularly limited as long as it can block laser light, and for example, a metal plate that has been subjected to a surface treatment, a resin plate that has a light-shielding function, or the like can be used.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the exit port of the light emitting means of the first light irradiation device and the exit port of the light emitting means of the second light irradiation device are preferably located on the same side of the transport device. According to this aspect, by arranging multiple light irradiation devices on one side of the transport device, the area of the light irradiation devices can be reduced.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the exit port of the light emitting means of the first light irradiation device and the exit port of the light emitting means of the second light irradiation device are preferably located on different sides of the conveying device. According to this aspect, depending on the specifications of the imaging optical element (e.g., an fθ lens) or other optical components serving as the optical scanning means, locating the light emitting means on both sides can reduce the area of the light irradiation device.

In a second form, the laser processing system of the present invention is a laser processing system that includes a plurality of light irradiation devices, each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means, and processes a workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices, wherein a first area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by the first light irradiation device and a second area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by the second light irradiation device form different areas on the workpiece, and at least one of the first irradiation area onto which laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the first light irradiation device and the second irradiation area onto which laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the second light irradiation device crosses the conveying path of the workpiece.
According to the laser processing system of the second embodiment, a plurality of light irradiation devices are arranged, and a first area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device and a second area processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a second light irradiation device form different areas on the workpiece, and at least one of the first irradiation area where laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the first light irradiation device and the second irradiation area where laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the second light irradiation device crosses the conveying path of the workpiece, so that at least one of the first irradiation area and the second irradiation area crosses the conveying path of the workpiece, and the area required for the plurality of light irradiation devices can be reduced.
The conveying plane is the plane through which the bottom surface of the workpiece passes when it is transported along the transport path within the processing area. If the workpiece is loaded on a conveyor and transported, it is also the contact surface of the workpiece on the conveyor.

In one aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that after at least one of the first and second irradiation areas has crossed the transport path, the laser light is reflected by at least one mirror and incident on the workpiece. According to this aspect, after at least one of the first and second irradiation areas has crossed the transport path, the laser light is reflected by at least one mirror and incident on the workpiece, thereby folding back the laser light and irradiating it onto any multiple positions on the workpiece on the opposite side of the workpiece, thereby reducing the area required for multiple light irradiation devices.

In a third aspect, the laser processing system of the present invention is formed by combining the laser processing system according to the first aspect of the present invention with the laser processing system according to the second aspect of the present invention.
According to the laser processing system of the third aspect, by combining the laser processing system of the first aspect of the present invention with the laser processing system of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the relative position accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece, reduce the area of the light irradiation device, prevent the light path of the adjacent first light irradiation device from entering the second light irradiation device, and prevent damage to the light irradiation device due to laser light irradiation.

<Light irradiation device>
The light irradiation device is a device that performs laser processing by irradiating a workpiece with laser light, and has a light emitting means that emits laser light and a light scanning means that scans the laser light emitted by the light emitting means.
The light emitting means is preferably a pulsed laser that emits laser light. The light emitting means emits laser light with an output (light intensity) suitable for changing the properties of at least one of the surface and the interior of the workpiece irradiated with the laser light.
The light emitting means is capable of controlling the on/off of laser light emission, the emission frequency, and the light intensity.
As an example of the light emitting means, a laser light source having a wavelength of 355 nm to 1064 nm, a pulse width of 1 picosecond to 10 nanoseconds, and an average output of 10 W to 50 W can be used.
The spot diameter of the laser light in the region where the workpiece is to be changed is preferably 1 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and more preferably 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

Examples of the optical scanning means include a deflector and an imaging optical element.
The deflector may be, for example, a galvanometer scanner.
The imaging optical element may be, for example, an fθ lens.

9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an optical scanning means 45. The optical scanning means 45 in FIG. 9 has a deflector and an imaging optical element.
The galvanometer scanner as a deflector has a two-axis configuration, consisting of an X-axis galvanometer scanner and a Y-axis galvanometer scanner.
The X-axis galvanometer scanner is composed of an X-axis galvanometer and a deflection mirror 31 rotatably attached to the tip of the galvanometer. The Y-axis galvanometer scanner is composed of a Y-axis galvanometer and a deflection mirror 32 rotatably attached to the tip of the galvanometer. The two deflection mirrors rotate in directions perpendicular to each other, and by rotating the deflection mirror, the laser light can be scanned to any position.

An fθ lens can be used as the imaging optical element. As shown in Figure 9, the fθ lens 33 focuses the incident laser light scanned by the deflector at a position displaced from the center of the lens optical axis in proportion to the incident angle.

-Workpiece-
There are no particular restrictions on the workpiece as long as it can be laser-processed, and it can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. Examples include containers such as PET beverage bottles, containers, resin materials labeled with ingredients, expiration dates, manufacturer logos, product names, etc., and containers and packages made of resin materials for storing liquids or solids.

--Storage container--
The storage container has a container body.
The container body is not particularly limited in terms of material, shape, size, structure, color, etc., and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.
The material of the container body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include resin, glass, metal, etc. Among these, transparent resin or transparent glass is more preferable, and transparent resin is particularly preferable.
Furthermore, biodegradable resins, which have recently been attracting attention for their recyclability, can be used. While it is desirable to use 100% biodegradable resins, even if the biodegradable resin content is only about 30%, environmental friendliness is significantly improved.
Examples of resins that can be used for the container body include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polybutylene adipate/terephthalate (PBAT), polyethylene terephthalate succinate, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane, epoxy, biopolybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid blend (PBAT), starch-blend polyester resin, polybutylene terephthalate succinate, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate/hydroxyhexanoate (PHBH), polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA), bioPET30, biopolyamide (PA) 610, 410, 510, bioPA1012, 10T, bioPA11T, MXD10, biopolycarbonate, biopolyurethane, bioPE, bioPET100, bioPA11, and bioPA1010. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, biodegradable resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polybutylene adipate/terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate succinate are preferred from the standpoint of environmental impact.

The shape of the container body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include a bottle shape, a cylindrical shape, a square prism shape, a box shape, a cone shape, etc. Among these, a bottle shape is preferred.
The bottle-shaped container body has a mouth, a shoulder connected to the mouth, a body connected to the shoulder, and a bottom connected to the body.
The size of the container body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the use of the container.
The structure of the container body is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, it may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure.
The color of the container body may be, for example, colorless transparent, colored transparent, or colored opaque.

-Containment Unit-
The container has a container, an object contained in the container, and a sealing means for sealing the object in the container, and may further have other components as required.

--Contents--
The contained material may be, for example, a liquid, a gas, or a granular solid.
Examples of liquids include water, tea, coffee, black tea, soft drinks, etc. When the contents are liquid drinks, they are often clear, white, black, brown, yellow, or other colors.
Examples of gases include oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
Examples of granular solids include pieces or particles of fruit pulp, vegetables, nata de coco, tapioca, jelly, konjac, etc.

-- Sealing means --
The sealing means is a means for sealing the contents in the container, and is sometimes called a "container cap." There are no particular restrictions on the material, shape, size, structure, color, etc. of the sealing means, and they can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose.

The material of the sealing means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include resin, glass, metal, ceramics, etc. Among these, resin is preferred from the viewpoint of formability.
The resin for the sealing means may be the same as the resin for the body of the container.
The color of the sealing means may be, for example, opaque and transparent.
The shape and size of the sealing means are not particularly limited as long as they are capable of sealing (closing) the opening of the container body, and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose.

The structure of the sealing means is not particularly limited and can be selected appropriately depending on the purpose, but for example, it is preferable that it has a first part that separates from the container body when opened and a second part that remains in the container body.
The side surface of the first portion is preferably uneven so as to prevent the hand from slipping when opening the package, while the side surface of the second portion is preferably flat without any unevenness.

<Transportation process and transport device>
The transport step is a step of transporting the workpiece to the processing area, and is performed by a transport device.
An example of the conveying device is a belt conveyor.

<Other steps and other means>
The other steps are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include a control step.
The other means is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose, and examples thereof include control means.

(Light irradiation device)
The light irradiation device of the present invention is a light irradiation device having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means, wherein the light irradiation device has a plurality of light irradiation ports, a first region to be processed by a first laser light incident on the workpiece from a first light irradiation port, and a second region to be processed by a second laser light incident on the workpiece from a second light irradiation port form different regions on the workpiece, and there is an angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region.

With the light irradiation device of the present invention, a single light irradiation device has multiple light irradiation ports, and a first region processed by a first laser beam incident on the workpiece from a first light irradiation port and a second region processed by a second laser beam incident on the workpiece from a second light irradiation port form different regions on the workpiece. By creating an angle difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region, it is possible to reduce the complexity and cost of the transport device and improve the relative positional accuracy at any multiple positions on the workpiece.

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations may be omitted. Furthermore, the number, position, shape, etc. of the following components are not limited to this embodiment, and may be of any number, position, shape, etc. that is preferable for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an example of a conventional laser processing system for forming a desired processing shape on the surface of a PET bottle as a workpiece, and FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1A.
The laser processing system 20 in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes a workpiece 21, a conveying device 22, and a light irradiation device 23.
The light irradiation device 23 has a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means.

1A and 1B, PET bottles serving as workpieces 21 are lined up at a predetermined interval and conveyed to a processing area 24 at a constant speed by a conveying device 22 in a bottle conveying direction A. The PET bottles are lined up on the conveying device 22 with their longitudinal direction aligned with the direction of gravity. The processing area 24 is determined by the settings of an imaging optical element (e.g., an fθ lens) serving as the optical scanning means of the light irradiation device 23 and a galvanometer scanner serving as a deflector. The surface of the PET bottles serving as the processing surface is aligned approximately with the focal position of the fθ lens.
A PET bottle, serving as workpiece 21, enters processing area 24, and its position on conveying device 22 is detected by a detection system in order to be processed at a predetermined position. From that position, laser light is irradiated and processing is performed after a predetermined delay time. Once processing is completed in processing area 24, the PET bottle, with processed shape 25 formed, is transported to the next process by conveying device 22 at a constant transport speed.

First Embodiment
FIG. 2A is a plan view showing an example of a first embodiment of a laser processing system that performs laser processing at different positions on a PET bottle as a workpiece, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view showing two processing areas on the workpiece of FIG. 2A.

The laser processing system 30 in Figure 2A has two light irradiation devices (a first light irradiation device 23a and a second light irradiation device 23b) arranged on either side of a conveying device 22 to perform processing at different positions on a PET bottle 21 as a workpiece.
The first light irradiation device 23 a has a light emitting means for emitting a laser 3 and a light scanning means such as a galvano scanner and an fθ lens, and forms a processing region 5 .
The second light irradiation device 23 b has a light emitting means for emitting the laser 3 and a light scanning means such as a galvano scanner and an fθ lens, and forms a processing region 6 .
The two first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b are arranged on either side of the conveying device 22, and the optical axes in each processing area 5, 6 are oriented in opposite directions from the two first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b toward the conveying device 22.

The processing areas 5 and 6 are approximately coincident with the focal plane of the fθ lens, which is approximately parallel to the conveying direction A of the PET bottle 21 serving as the workpiece. The position of the PET bottle 21 conveyed by the conveying device 22 is detected by a detection system (not shown), and after a predetermined delay time, the first light irradiation device 23a processes the bottle in the processing area 5. After processing is complete, the PET bottle 21 is transported by the conveying device 22 and processed in the processing area 6 of the light irradiation device 23b.
While the PET bottle 21 is being transported from the processing area 5 to the processing area 6 by the transport device 22, the posture of the PET bottle 21 does not change except in the transport direction A of the PET bottle, and the PET bottle 21 is processed by the second light irradiation device 23b while maintaining the posture in which it was processed by the first light irradiation device 23a. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2B, the processing area 7 processed by the first light irradiation device 23a and the processing area 8 processed by the second light irradiation device 23b are located in different places on the PET bottle 21.
The first light irradiation device 23a and the second light irradiation device 23b are adjacent to each other in the direction A of conveyance of the PET bottle, and the processing area 5 and the processing area 6 are set close to each other in the direction A of conveyance of the PET bottle. Because there is a time lag between the processing in the processing area 5 and the processing in the processing area 6, if the posture of the PET bottle 21 changes during that time, the relative position of the processing unit will deviate from the target. Therefore, by shortening the distance in the conveyance direction between the processing area 5 and the processing area 6 as much as possible and minimizing the time difference between the processing, the PET bottle 21 can be conveyed to the processing area 6 in the same posture in the processing area 5, and fluctuations in the relative positions of the processing units 7 and 8 can be suppressed.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing area on a PET bottle as a workpiece in the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device.
As shown in Figure 2A, by arranging the first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b at positions on either side of the conveying device 22 and aligning their optical axes so that they face each other, it is possible to set a processing area around almost the entire periphery of the PET bottle 21.
As shown in Fig. 3, the processing area 5 of the first light irradiation device 23a covers half the circumference of the PET bottle, 180°, and the processing area 6 of the second light irradiation device 23b covers the remaining 180°. This means that the area not illuminated by the first light irradiation device 23a is the illumination area of the second light irradiation device 23b.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the positional relationship of processing portions on a PET bottle as a workpiece.
FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the first light irradiation device, the second light irradiation device, and the processing unit.
In Figure 4A, the normal to processed portion 7 on the surface of PET bottle 21 processed in processing region 5 in Figure 3 is normal 10, and the normal to processed portion 8 processed in processing region 6 is normal 9. The normal to the processed portion is the average value of the normals over the entire processed portion.
In Figure 4A, the angle difference between the normals is 180°. As shown in Figure 4B, when processing area 8 is used, its normal is normal 9, and the normal 10 of processing area 7 on the opposite side can take a range of 90° to 270° relative to normal 9, depending on the settings of processing area 7. The remaining normal angle difference of 270° to 360° or 0 to 90° falls within processing area 6 and can be processed by second light irradiation device 23b. In this way, for one of the multiple processing areas on PET bottle 21 as the workpiece, first light irradiation device 23a processes the processing area with a normal angle difference in the range of 90° to 270°, and second light irradiation device 23b processes the processing area with a normal angle difference in the range of 270° to 360° or 0 to 90°. By opposing the incident light axes on PET bottle 21, it is possible to provide processing surfaces on both sides of the defined center plane of the PET bottle. In other words, by adopting the configuration shown in FIG. 3, a rotation mechanism for the PET bottle and its phase alignment control are not required, and processing on both sides is possible with a simple configuration.

Third Embodiment
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device adjacent to each other in the transport direction.
As shown in Figure 5, the first and second light irradiation devices 23a and 23b are arranged adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, sandwiching the conveying device 22. Because their optical axes face each other, if the distance between the adjacent first and second light irradiation devices in the conveying direction is small, one of the optical axes may enter the other device within the scanning field angle, causing damage to the light irradiation device due to laser light irradiation. Damage to a light irradiation device may require the transport of PET bottles (workpieces 21) to be stopped depending on the location of the damage, potentially reducing the operating rate of the manufacturing process and significantly reducing productivity. Therefore, when the first and second light irradiation devices 23a and 23b are arranged across the conveying device 22 as shown in Figure 5, it is necessary to avoid any optical path that would enter the other light irradiation device within the scanning optical path of the other light irradiation device.
Therefore, by the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device satisfying the relationship of the following formula (1a), the optical axis of one of the first light irradiation devices 23a can be prevented from intersecting with the optical axis of the other of the second light irradiation device 23b, and damage to the light irradiation devices due to laser light irradiation can be prevented.

L represents the distance (mm) between the center of the optical axis of the first light irradiation device and the center of the optical axis of the second light irradiation device, L1 represents the distance (mm) in the conveying direction from the center of the optical axis of the first light irradiation device to the center position of the PET bottle as the workpiece at the maximum scanning angle, and L2 represents the distance (mm) in the conveying direction from the center of the optical axis of the second light irradiation device to the center position of the PET bottle as the workpiece at the maximum scanning angle.

Here, L1 and L2 are as follows:

where θ1 (°) is the deflection angle of the galvanometer scanner as the first deflector, WD1 (mm) is the working distance of the fθ lens as the first imaging optical element, CA1 (mm) is the aperture diameter of the fθ lens as the first imaging optical element, and d (mm) is the maximum diameter of the PET bottle as the workpiece.

where θ2 (°) is the deflection angle of the galvanometer scanner as the second deflector, WD2 (mm) is the working distance of the fθ lens as the second imaging optical element, CA2 (mm) is the aperture diameter of the fθ lens as the second imaging optical element, and d (mm) is the maximum diameter of the PET bottle as the workpiece.

<Fourth embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a laser processing system in which a first light irradiation device and a second light irradiation device are arranged adjacent to each other in the transport direction with a transport device in between, and a light-shielding member is provided between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device.
Even if the first light irradiation device 23a is arranged so that the light path from the first light irradiation device 23a does not enter the second light irradiation device 23b, as shown in Figure 5, it is easy to imagine a case where the laser is turned on in a location where there is no plastic bottle due to abnormal operation of the galvanometer scanner or erroneous detection of a plastic bottle, and the laser light does not enter the plastic bottle but passes through it and is reflected at an unintended location to enter the other light irradiation device. For this reason, as shown in Figure 6, a light-shielding member 43 must be provided between the first light irradiation device 23a and the second light irradiation device 23b to block unintended light paths and prevent the laser light from one first light irradiation device 23a from entering the other second light irradiation device 23b.
The light blocking member 43 is made of aluminum with a black alumite surface.

Fifth Embodiment
FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which laser emission ports of optical scanning means adjacent to each other in the conveying direction are arranged on the same side of the conveying device.
In the manufacturing process of PET bottles or PET bottled beverages, PET bottles are transported on a conveyor, which is one of the transport devices 22, and are shipped after passing through various processes along the transport route. Because the transport route is long to accommodate the various processes, reducing the equipment area for each process leads to reducing the floor area for the entire manufacturing process.
In Figure 7A, the light emitting means 41 that emits lasers from the first light emitting device 23a and the second light emitting device 23b are arranged on one side of the conveying device 22. After the scanning light from the first light emitting device 23a exits the fθ lens, it continues toward the PET bottles to perform processing. After the scanning light from the second light emitting device 23b exits the fθ lens, it traverses the conveying device 22, is reflected in the opposite direction by the reflecting mirror 44, and continues toward the PET bottles to perform processing. In Figure 7A, because the scanning light from the second light emitting device 23b traverses the conveying device 22, the center of the optical axis exiting the fθ lens 33 is positioned higher or lower than the conveying device 22 containing the PET bottles, as shown in Figure 7B, and the optical path passes through the space above and below the conveying device 22 and is reflected by the reflecting mirror 44 to adjust to a predetermined height. This configuration allows processing to be performed on different locations on the same PET bottle using different light irradiation devices, and the areas required for the laser processing process using the light irradiation devices are all concentrated on one side of the conveying device, ensuring flexibility in the conveying route.

Sixth Embodiment
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a laser processing system having a configuration in which two adjacent light irradiation devices are arranged in plural.
In the laser processing system 30 shown in Figure 8, the first and second light irradiation devices 23a and 23b are arranged adjacent to each other in the conveyance direction and process different areas of the same bottle. Separately, the third and fourth light irradiation devices 23c and 23d are arranged behind the first and second light irradiation devices 23a and 23b in the conveyance direction and process different PET bottles from those processed by the first and second light irradiation devices 23a and 23b.
The operation of the third and fourth light irradiation devices 23c, 23d is the same as that of the first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b, except for the PET bottles to be processed. This configuration accommodates productivity; when high productivity is required and cannot be achieved with the first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b alone, the third and fourth light irradiation devices 23c, 23d are added as a pair to accommodate productivity. The detection system (not shown) used to detect the position of the PET bottles used by the third and fourth light irradiation devices 23c, 23d may use the signals used by the first and second light irradiation devices 23a, 23b, or may be added separately behind the second light irradiation device 23b and use the detection signal.

By incorporating the configuration described above, the laser processing system of the present invention is able to process multiple processing areas around a PET bottle without installing a PET bottle rotation mechanism on the conveyor line. Eliminating the need for positioning and rotation mechanisms reduces equipment costs. Furthermore, phase control of rotation is also no longer necessary, allowing for a simple control configuration. Furthermore, by configuring the system to minimize the difference in processing start time, it is possible to suppress bottle position fluctuations during transport during the processing start time difference and improve the relative position accuracy between processing areas. Furthermore, by processing different processing areas on a PET bottle using separate light irradiation devices, processing time can be shortened, contributing to improved productivity.

Figure 10 shows an example of the appearance of a storage container used in the present invention. The printed portion forms an image by changing the surface properties of the container. Figure 10 shows a case where the contents or background is black and the printed surface is white, but if the contents are white, as shown in Figure 11, for example, the printed surface may be made darker than the non-printed surface by making the transmittance of the printed surface lower than that of the non-printed surface. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, an aggregate of microstructures may be formed on the non-printed surface.

The changes in surface properties required to form individual microstructures on the surface of the container body include changes in shape and changes in physical properties, and the surface modification is carried out by the surface modification means, resulting in at least one of these changes.
Fig. 13 shows an example of a case where the surface is modified by laser irradiation. Fig. 13 is merely an example and does not limit the type of change in the surface property or the means for changing it. As long as it involves optical properties, for example, yellowing of a resin material, shape change due to cutting, oxidation reaction, etc. may be used.

Figures 14A to 14D show a printed surface formed by aggregating microstructures formed by changing the surface texture in the present invention. Figure 14A is an enlarged view of the printed surface. As shown in Figure 14B, in the storage container used in the present invention, the printed surface in any region is formed from multiple microstructures. In Figure 14B, two microstructures are arranged in line with the width of the printed line, but this does not limit the number of structures relative to the printing width. Depending on the method of forming the microstructures, it is also conceivable that the microstructures may take a shape close to circular, as shown in Figure 14C. The shape of the microstructures is also not particularly limited, and the method of aggregation may be changed depending on the content to be printed and the position, as shown in Figure 14C. Here, "aggregating microstructures" refers to a state in which microstructures are arranged at different times in an arbitrary range. As shown in Figure 14D, whether they are formed in the same line or are aggregated by folding back, this constitutes an aggregate of microstructures in the present invention.

In the case of the container used in the present invention, any area on the surface of the container body to be printed can be assigned as an output pixel. As shown in Figure 15A, the pixel value of the output pixel can be adjusted by adjusting the density of the fine structure within the output pixel area.
The position of the fine structure on the output pixel in Figure 15A is merely an example, and the arrangement can be set arbitrarily. When pixel values are allocated as in Figure 15A, the gradation value that can be expressed is determined taking into account the resolution required for the output pixel and the size of the fine structure, and the gradation in Figure 15A is merely an example. Giving the output pixel a gradation value may also be achieved by adjusting the range of surface texture modification in the depth direction from the surface of the container body, as shown in Figure 15B. Figure 15B is merely an example, and does not limit the distribution of the modified area after adjustment.
Similarly, having a gray value in the output pixel may also be achieved by modifying the optical properties of a single microstructure, as shown in Figure 15C.

In this embodiment, for simplicity, a plastic bottle is used as an example, but other transparent containers such as resin materials or glass may also be used.
Furthermore, the means for forming the microfabrication is not limited to laser, and other processing means such as cutting may be used.

In the present invention, depending on the color of the contents, the visibility is higher when the contents are inside.
When the visible area appears white, the contrast is highest when the color of the contents placed in the container is black, but other colors such as brown or colorless are also acceptable.
The visible area can also be formed in black, and if it appears black, the highest contrast will be achieved if the color of the contents placed in the container is white.
In the case of forming a black color, the visible area may be formed by carbonization. The color of the container itself may be colored as well as colorless.

Seventh Embodiment
Fig. 16A is a diagram showing an example of a container having an integrated record according to the seventh embodiment, and Fig. 16B is an enlarged view of the depicted portion of Fig. 16A.
16A and 16B show an example of a storage container having an integrated record, and the imaged portion (identifiable area/whitened area) is an aggregate of microstructures formed by modifying the material of the container.

The structure of the storage container used in the present invention may have a shape such as a circle when cut into a cross section or a polygon, etc. Therefore, the image forming surface may be not only a single plane, but also a combination of multiple planes, a curved surface, or a combination of a curved surface and a plane.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example in which an image is recorded on a curved surface near the mouth of a storage container having an integral recording.

As shown in Figure 18, if the height direction of the storage container is the Z axis, the drawing formed when viewing the XY plane from the Z axis direction has good visibility from the Z axis direction. For example, if the manufacturer name, product name, image, logo, QR code (registered trademark), barcode, etc. are included, it will be easy to understand even when packed in a box, etc.

To improve visibility of barcodes and the like in the Z-axis direction (where the height direction of the container is the Z-axis), it may be easier to read if the spacing between the lower lines is narrowed and they are drawn to match the curvature, as shown in Figure 19, for example.

FIG. 20 shows variations in processing depth.
There are four variations of conditions, A to D, as follows: A: Processing depth where the ratio of processed to non-processed areas is 1 to 3 to 9 to 7, and strength is high. B: Processing depth where the ratio of processed to non-processed areas is 7 to 9 to 3 to 1. C: Processing depth where the ratio of processed to non-processed areas is 4 to 6 to 6 to 4. D: A state where various processing depths coexist, and information variation is wide. Specifically, for condition A, for example, if the container thickness is 100 μm to 500 μm, the processing depth will be 10 μm.
The containers come in capacities of 500 mL or 2 L, with some up to 30 L.

In laser irradiation for image formation, multiple beams are used to increase the speed. The multi-beam laser arrangement is 1D, and there are three variations in the overlap of the beams.
FIG. 21 shows an image of overlapping beams during multi-beam processing.
In the above condition A, for example, there is a gap of 23.6 μm for a processing width of 42.6 μm.

Eighth Embodiment
22 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a storage container manufacturing device as a laser processing system according to the eighth embodiment, in which a laser 13 is irradiated from a marking unit 12 to form a processed shape while a container body 15, which is the target of marking, is rotated by a rotation mechanism 11. The container body 15, which is the target of marking, is placed on a conveyor 14, and is marked while being moved by the conveyor 14. FIG. 22 is a view seen from the direction of travel of the conveyor.
In some cases, the laser position is fixed and the container body is moved by the rotation mechanism 11, and in other cases, the container body is fixed and the laser position is moved.
Furthermore, when moving the container body, laser drawing may be performed using synchronous control, such as rotating it by a certain angle, performing laser drawing, and then rotating it by the same angle and performing laser drawing again, or the container body may be rotated at a constant speed and laser drawing may be performed.
The container holding portion may be the mouth, the container body, or the bottom. The container may be placed vertically, horizontally, or at an angle during processing.

As shown in Figure 23, laser marking can be performed from one side as the product passes through a conveyor, etc., or as shown in Figure 24, laser marking can be performed simultaneously from multiple locations as the product passes through a conveyor, etc.

25 shows that the marking section 12 is arranged at an angle relative to the container body 15 so that it can be drawn on the inclined portion of the container body 15. In the portion that is inclined relative to the container body 15, the marking section 12 is arranged at an angle of a predetermined angle relative to the container body 15, and the angle is adjustable.
FIG. 26 shows an example of a manufacturing device for a storage container in which the container body 15 is placed horizontally.

Figure 27 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a marking unit in a storage container manufacturing device serving as a laser processing system according to the eighth embodiment. The marking unit includes a laser light control unit, a laser driving unit, and a container holding unit. Note that the container holding unit may not be present, and the laser driving unit may not have a scanning unit.

The scanning section (raster) of the laser driving section in the storage container manufacturing apparatus as the laser processing system according to the eighth embodiment has a configuration as shown in FIG. 28A.
As shown in FIG. 28A, the manufacturing apparatus 10 for a storage container includes a laser oscillator 101, a beam expander 102, a scanning optical element 103, a focusing optical element 104, and a rotation mechanism 11.
28B is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the scanning unit of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing apparatus. The processing procedure of the scanning unit will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S10, the scanning unit of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing apparatus emits laser light from the laser oscillator 101, and then the process proceeds to S11.
In step S11, the scanning unit changes the beam diameter of the laser light by the beam expander 2, and then proceeds to step S12.
In step S12, the scanning unit scans the laser light using the scanning optical element 103, and then the process proceeds to S13.
In step S13, the scanning unit focuses the laser light using the focusing optical element 104, and then the process proceeds to S14.
In step S14, the scanning unit irradiates the container body 15 with laser light, and then ends this process.

In the case where the optical system of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing device as the laser processing system according to the eighth embodiment is arrayed, it has a configuration as shown in FIG. 29A.
29A, the storage container manufacturing apparatus 10 has a laser light source 106 and a rotation mechanism 11. The laser light source 106 has a plurality of optical elements (condenser lenses) 107 arranged in an array.
Fig. 29B is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the optical system of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing apparatus as the laser processing system according to Embodiment 8. The processing procedure of the optical system of the laser driving unit will be described with reference to Fig. 29A.

In step S20, the optical system of the laser driving unit in the storage container manufacturing apparatus 10 emits laser light from the laser light sources (n laser light sources) 106, and then the process proceeds to S21.
In step S21, the optical system of the laser driving unit focuses the laser light using the arrayed optical elements (n pieces for focusing) 107, and then the process proceeds to S22.
In step S22, the optical system of the laser driving unit irradiates the container body 15 with laser light, and then this process ends.

Figure 30 is an image diagram of a delicate design that can be realized with the container of the present invention. Methods for realizing design drawings that contribute to improving the commercial value of this container include image expression using pointillism and image expression using gradation.
It is desirable that the size of the image, pointillism, binary, multi-value, and the drawing area cover almost the entire height of the container.
Specifically, a drawing area of 2 cm to 20 cm in height is desirable. It is also economical to set the height that can be written at one time to, for example, 2.54 cm, and record in several steps.

The laser used in this invention has a small beam diameter and is used to draw a collection of fine structures, making it possible to draw delicate designs that are difficult to achieve with conventional laser printing (mainly carbon dioxide lasers).
FIG. 31 shows a delicate design applied to a PET bottle.
Other than PET bottles, resin containers to be recorded include, for example, plastic cups used to serve iced coffee at convenience stores, etc. Figure 32 shows a plastic cup with a delicate design applied.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The present invention includes, for example, the following aspects.
<1> A laser processing system including a plurality of light irradiation devices each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light, the system processing a workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices,
a first region to be processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device;
a second region processed by the laser light incident on the workpiece by the second light irradiation device forms a different region on the workpiece;
The laser processing system is characterized in that there is an angular difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region.
<2> The laser processing system according to <1>, wherein the angular difference is 90° or more and 270° or less.
<3> The workpiece is transported by a transport device to processing areas of the plurality of light irradiation devices,
The laser processing system according to any one of <1> and <2>, wherein the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device are disposed adjacent to each other in a conveyance direction.
<4> The laser processing system according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device form a pair, and a plurality of pairs of light irradiation devices are arranged.
<5> The laser processing system according to any one of <3> to <4>, wherein in a transport region from a processing start position by the first light irradiation device to a processing end position by the second light irradiation device, the posture of the workpiece does not change in any direction other than the transport direction.
<6> The laser processing system according to any one of <3> to <4>, wherein in a transport region from a processing start position by the first light irradiation device to a processing end position by the second light irradiation device, the workpiece does not come into contact with the transport device except for the transport surface.
<7> The optical scanning means of the first light irradiation device has a first deflector and a first imaging optical element,
the optical scanning means of the second light irradiation device has a second deflector and a second imaging optical element;
The laser processing system according to any one of <1> to <6> satisfies the relationship of the following formula (1).
L>(WD1+d/2)*tan(θ1/2)+CA1/2+(WD2+d/2)*tan(θ2/2)+CA2/2...Formula (1)
In the above formula (1), L is the distance (mm) between the optical axis center of the first light irradiation device and the optical axis center of the second light irradiation device, the deflection angle θ1 (°) of the first deflector, the deflection angle θ2 (°) of the second deflector, the working distance WD1 (mm) of the first imaging optical element, the working distance WD2 (mm) of the second imaging optical element, the aperture diameter CA1 (mm) of the first imaging optical element, the aperture diameter CA2 (mm) of the second imaging optical element, and the maximum diameter d (mm) of the workpiece.
<8> The laser processing system according to any one of <1> to <7>, further comprising a light-shielding member between the first light irradiation device and the second light irradiation device.
<9> The laser processing system according to any one of <3> to <8>, wherein an outlet of the light emitting means of the first light emitting device and an outlet of the light emitting means of the second light emitting device are located on the same side of the conveying device.
<10> The laser processing system according to any one of <3> to <8>, wherein an exit port of the light emitting means of the first light emitting device and an exit port of the light emitting means of the second light emitting device are located on different sides of the transport device.
<11> A laser processing system including a plurality of light irradiation devices each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light, the system processing a workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices,
a first region to be processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device;
a second region processed by the laser light incident on the workpiece by the second light irradiation device forms a different region on the workpiece;
This laser processing system is characterized in that at least one of the first irradiation area where laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the first light irradiation device and the second irradiation area where laser light is projected onto the conveying plane by the second light irradiation device crosses the conveying path of the workpiece.
<12> The laser processing system according to <11>, wherein after at least one of the first irradiation area and the second irradiation area traverses a transport path, the laser light is reflected by at least one mirror and incident on the workpiece.
<13> The laser processing system according to any one of <1> to <10>,
A laser processing system obtained by combining the laser processing system according to any one of <11> to <12> above.
<14> A light irradiation device having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light,
the light irradiation device has a plurality of light irradiation ports,
a first region to be processed by a first laser beam incident on the workpiece from a first light irradiation port;
a second region processed by the second laser light incident on the workpiece from the second light irradiation port forms a different region on the workpiece;
The light irradiation device is characterized in that there is an angle difference between the normal direction of the processing surface of the first region and the normal direction of the processing surface of the second region.

The laser processing system described in any one of items <1> to <13> and the light irradiation device described in item <14> can solve various problems encountered in the past and achieve the object of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Storage container manufacturing device 11 Rotation mechanism 12 Marker unit 13 Laser 14 Conveyor 15 Container body 20 Laser processing system 21 Workpiece 22 Conveyor 23 Light irradiation device 23a First light irradiation device 23b Second light irradiation device 24 Processing area 25 Processing shape 26 Part to be processed 30 Laser 33 fθ lens 41 Light emitting means 42 Galvano scanner 43 Light blocking member 44 Folding mirror 45 Light scanning means

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-20242

Claims (2)

A laser processing system including a plurality of light irradiation devices each having a light emitting means for emitting laser light and a light scanning means for scanning the laser light emitted by the light emitting means, and processing a workpiece using the plurality of light irradiation devices,
a first region to be processed by laser light incident on the workpiece by a first light irradiation device;
a second region processed by the laser light incident on the workpiece by the second light irradiation device forms a different region on the workpiece;
A laser processing system characterized in that at least one of a first irradiation area where laser light is projected onto a conveying plane by the first light irradiation device and a second irradiation area where laser light is projected onto a conveying plane by the second light irradiation device crosses the conveying path of the workpiece. 2. The laser processing system according to claim 1, wherein after at least one of the first irradiation area and the second irradiation area traverses the transport path, the laser light is reflected by at least one mirror and incident on the workpiece.